Indexing golf mat for a golf driving range

ABSTRACT

A golf practice mat is formed by a circular or rectangular golf mat with a sufficiently large playing surface to support a golfer for address of a golf ball on a tee located in a contiguous outer peripheral margin of the playing surface. The spaced apart golf ball hitting areas each include the golf club approach path and a golf club follow through path intercepted by the golf tee mounting aperture. The golf mat is rotated about an axle within spandrels or filler pieces supported on a platform about the outer periphery of the golf mat.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] Not applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to providing a succession ofrenewable golf ball hitting areas including a golf ball approach pathand a golf club follow through path at opposite sides of a golf tee in agolf mat for a golf driving range and, more particularly, to a golf matrotatably within stationary extensions on an underlying platform.

[0004] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0005] As is well known in the art, it is a common practice to use atee, usually made of wood, to support a golf ball above a playing fieldso that a golf club can be impacted with a golf ball. This mode ofdriving a golf ball is practiced at a teeing area as well as at adriving range, for example. The extent of adjustment to the height ofthe golf ball above the playing field is limited by the height of thetee and the soil conditions, which govern the length of the shank of thetee extending beneath the golf ball support surface, which mustpenetrate the earth to obtain a stable support. A golf ball tee of thistype is inexpensive and constructed so that it can be lost withoutusually any desire to recover the tee in the event the tee is dislodgedfrom the playing surface upon impact with the golf club. At a drivingrange where golfers practice driving golf balls for distance andaccuracy, the golf ball is usually supported by a permanent structuregenerally level either with the playing field or at a fixed height aboveit. The golfer cannot vary the height at which the golf ball issupported above the playing field. It is desirable to practice drivingtechniques to simulate driving golf balls both from the tee box wherethe golf ball is usually located above the playing field as well as froma fairway and of course sometimes, in the taller grass in the roughwhere a golf ball tee should not be used and thus the golf ball must behit while supported by the playing field.

[0006] In the course of practice golf ball driving swings, theartificial turf surrounding the golf ball tee at a driving rangeundergoes wear and tear due to contact between the turf and the golfclub and contact between the golf ball and the turf. The area subject tosuch wear and tear is predominately limited to a golf ball hitting areamade up of a golf club approach path and a golf club follow throughpath, which is intercepted by a golf tee. The wear and tear to the golfball hitting area is not only unsightly but the abrading of theartificial turf degrades the simulation of hitting on natural turf. Theartificial turf rapidly degrades with repeated clubs miss hits occurringas the golf club head has a descending motion downwardly on to the turfat a site rearward of the location of the golf ball on the supportinggolf ball tee. U.S. Pat. No. 6,156,396 discloses a golf practice matwith a thick foam rubber base supporting artificial grass carpet so thatwhen a golf ball on the carpet surface is struck, the carpet can slide alimited distance to absorb the force of the club. The desire is tolessen the reaction force on the golfer's hands and arms. The elasticbiasing force on the practice mat returns the carpet to its originalposition after the completion of the practice swing. U.S. Pat. No.6,106,409 discloses a golf practice mat having three sections in aspaced relation. Each section is provided with a removable mat and thesimulated grass in each section corresponds to different grassyconditions likely to be encountered on a golf course. U.S. Pat. No.3,348,847 discloses a golf practice device incorporating a discretedivot portion, which permits dislodgement and flight away of the divotportion from the practice device to simulate the striking of a golf ballin the fairway of a golf course. Such known golf practice devices arenot only expensive to procure and maintain, but also provide only singlepurpose practice aspects to the game of golf. These devices are alsosubject to extreme wear and tear necessitating frequent costlyreplacement.

[0007] A need therefore exists for a more versatile golf mat having aplayer surface, which can be indexed, into positions for renewing a wornpractice area each containing a golf ball tee.

[0008] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to providea golf mat with a support area for a golfer and a continuous outerperipheral margin to the player surface containing spaced apart golfhitting areas each provided with a golf ball tee and moveable so thatthe hitting areas can be moved into a predetermined golf ball hittinglocation.

[0009] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a golfmat with a playing surface on a resilient carrier pad supported by aplatform form for rotary indexing of spaced apart golf ball hittinglocations each containing a golf ball tee into a position for impactbetween a golf club with a golf ball on the tee.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] According to the present invention there is provide a golfpractice mat including the combination of a platform; a mat including aplaying surface on a resilient carrier pad having a load bearing facesurface for support by the platform, the mat having an outer peripheralmargin containing spaced apart areas of the playing surface eachcontaining a golf tee mounting aperture, a mat retainer carried by theplatform to index the mat into a position to locate each selected one ofthe spaced apart areas of the playing surface and the associatedselected golf tee mounting aperture thereof at a predetermined golf ballhitting location above the platform, and a golf ball tee including aflexible golf tee shank permeating the associated selected golf teemounting aperture for retention by the mat to support a golf ball atopthe golf ball tee within the selected one of the spaced apart areas ofthe playing surface at the predetermined golf ball hitting location forimpact with a golf club.

[0011] In the preferred form the present invention further provides adriving range mat apparatus including a platform, a golf mat having aplaying surface to support a golfer for address of a golf ball at acontiguous outer peripheral margin of the playing surface, the golf mathaving a resilient carrier pad adhered to the playing surface forsupport by the platform, the contiguous outer peripheral margin of theplaying surface having spaced apart golf ball hitting areas eachincluding a golf club approach path and a golf club follow through pathintercepted by a golf tee mounting aperture, a mat retainer carried bythe platform to index the mat into a position to locate any selected oneof the spaced apart golf ball hitting areas and the associated golf teemounting aperture thereof at a predetermined golf ball hitting locationabove the platform, and a golf ball tee including a flexible golf teeshank permeating the associated selected golf tee mounting aperture forretention by the mat to support a golf ball atop the golf ball teewithin the selected one of the spaced apart golf ball hitting areas atthe predetermined golf ball hitting location for impact with a golfclub.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] The present invention will be more fully understood when thefollowing description is read in light of the accompanying drawings inwhich:

[0013]FIG. 1 is an isometric view illustrating a golf practice matincorporating the features of the present invention according to thefirst embodiment;

[0014]FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along lines 2-2 of FIG. 1;

[0015]FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along lines 3-3 of FIG. 1;

[0016]FIG. 4 is a sectional view, similar to FIG. 2 illustrating amodified form of golf ball support tee useful in a golf mat of thepresent invention; and

[0017]FIG. 5 is a plane view of a golf practice mat according to asecond embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] Shown in FIG. 1 is a playing field 10 preferably includingspandrels 12 with arcuate edge segments 14 conforming to and disbursedin quadrants, in a confronting relationship, about the outer peripheralannular edge 16 of a disk shaped golf mat 18. The spandrels 12 are usedas stationary extensions to the disk shaped golf mat 18.

[0019] The spandrels 12 and the dish shaped golf mat 18 are made up aplaying surface formed of layers of artificial turf 20 and 22,respectively, located on and preferably secured by adhesive to acorrespondingly shaped rubber sponge mat layers 24 and 26. Each of therubber sponge mat layers 24 and 26 have a load bearing face surfacesupported on a horizontal face surface of platform 28 comprising asphaltor cement. The platform 28 is supported by earth 30. The layer ofartificial turf 20 of the disc shaped golf mat 18 forms a playingsurface of a sufficient size to provide an area for footing of a golferwhen assumes a conventional golf stance spaced from an outer peripheralmargin 32 of the golf mat 18. The outer peripheral margin 32 of theplaying surface is sufficiently sized to form spaced apart golf ballhitting areas 34 each including a golf club approach path 36 and a golfclub follow through path 38 intercepted by a golf tee mounting aperture40. A mat retainer constrains the golf mat 18 for rotational movement onthe platform 28, the mat retainer comprises either or both of the edgesegments 14 of the spandrels and axle 42. The sponge mat layer 26 of thespandrels 12 engages and retains the mat on the platform 28. The axle 42extends in an opening 44 located in the geometrical center of the discshaped golf mat 18. The axle 42 has a central longitudinal axis 46supported in an elongated hole 48 in the platform to extend verticallythrough the central opening 44 in the playing surface constrains the matfor rotary indexing of mat on the platform. As best shown in FIG. 2, theaxle 42 takes the form of an elongated shaft with sufficient length sothat about ⅔ of the length of the axle traverses the elongated hole 48with the remaining ⅓ of the axle length extending in the opening 44 ofthe golf mat 18.

[0020] The guidance provide by the seating of the axle in the centralopening 44 provides guided rotary movement of the golf mat 18 preferablyby the use of a reinforcing guide washer 50 secured by adhesive within arecess formed in the load bearing surface of the sponge mat layer 26. Asshown in FIG. 2 the upper terminal end of axle 42 is recessed below thelayer of artificial turf forming the playing surface 22. The axle 42 canbe readily removed from the mat and, if desired the opening 44 to allowreplacement of the dish shaped golf mat 18 as will be necessary fromtime to time. However, it is an important feature of the presentinvention to minimize the need to replace the golf mat by the provisionsof the golf mat with a sufficiently large playing surface to not onlysupport a golfer for address of a golf ball but also a contiguous outerperipheral margin of the playing surface. The spaced apart golf ballhitting areas 34 each include the golf club approach path 36 and a golfclub follow through path 38 intercepted by the golf tee mountingaperture 40.

[0021] The mat retainer comprised of the axle 42 and/or the spandrels 12are used to allow indexing of the golfing mat into a position to locateany selected one of the spaced apart golf ball hitting areas 34 and theassociated golf tee-mounting aperture 40 thereof at a predetermined golfball hitting location about the platform. As shown in FIG. 3, aconventional form of a golf ball supporting tee is identified byreference numeral 52 which includes a flexible tee shank 54 having atubular cross sectional configuration extending upwardly from discshaped base section 56. The base section 56 is secured by a layer ofadhesive in a recess 58 formed in the load bearing surface of the rubbersponge matt layer 26. The recess 50 is aligned with an aperture 40 toallow the tee shank 54 to extend above the playing field for positioninga golf ball at a desired elevation for contact with a golf club head.

[0022] The modified golf ball tee 60 according to the embodiment shownin FIG. 4 is constructed to allow replacement of a golf tee shank 62with any of a variety of golf tee shank having different shank lengthsand releasable secured by an inner connection formed by a threaded shaft64 engaged by a nut member 66 supported by the base plate 68. It is alsowithin the scope of the present invention to utilize a golf ball teehaving a readily adjustable height for selecting the elevation at whicha golf ball is supported above the playing field. One such form ofadjustable golf ball tee is disclosed in my U.S. Pat. No. 5,776,014,which disclosure is incorporated herein by this identification.

[0023]FIG. 5 illustrates a second embodiment of the present inventionwhich differs from the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-3 and describedherein above by configuration of the component parts making up theplaying field 10. As shown in FIG. 5, a playing field 100 includingfiller pieces 112 with linear edge segments 114 conforming to anddisbursed in quadrants, in a confronting relationship, about the outerperipheral edges 116 of a rectangular shaped golf mat 118. The termrectangularly shaped is used herein as the generic expression thusincluding a golf mat with equal lengths sides, i. e. a square shaped matas well as linear opposed sides of equal length and of a differentlength than the ends. The filler pieces 112 are used as stationaryextensions to the rectangular shaped golf mat 118.

[0024] The filler pieces 112 and the rectangular shaped golf mat 118have a playing surface formed of layers of artificial turf 120 and 122,respectively, located on correspondingly shaped rubber sponge mat layers124 and 126 as described in shown herein before and include the rubbersponge mat layers supported on a horizontal face surface of platform128. The layer of artificial turf 120 or 122 form a playing surface of asufficient size to provide an area for footing of a golfer when assumesa conventional golf stance spaced from an outer peripheral margin 132 ofthe playing field 100. The outer peripheral margin 132 is sufficientlysized to form spaced apart golf ball hitting areas 134 each including agolf club approach path 136 and a golf club follow through path 138intercepted by a golf tee mounting aperture 140. A mat retainerconstrains the rectangular golf mat 118 for rotational movement on theplatform 128, the mat retainer comprises either or both of the edgesegments of the filler pieces 112 and an axle 142. The sponge mat layer126 of the filler pieces 112 engages and retains the golf mat on theplatform. The axle 142 extends in the opening 44, as shown in the firstembodiment of FIG. 2 but centered in the rectangular shaped golf mat118. As in the first embodiment, the axle 42 takes the form of anelongated shaft with sufficient length so that about ⅔ of the length ofthe axle traverses the elongated hole in the platform with the remaining⅓ of the axle length extending in the opening 144 of the golf mat 118.

[0025] The guidance provide by the seating of the axle in the centralopening 144 provides guided rotary movement of the golf mat 18preferably by the use of the reinforcing guide washer 50 secured byadhesive within a recess formed in the load bearing surface of thesponge mat layer 26. As shown in FIG. 2 the upper terminal end of axle42 is recessed below the layer of artificial turf forming the playingsurface 22. The axle 42 can be readily removed from the mat and, ifdesired the opening 144 to allow replacement of the rectangular shapedgolf mat 118 as will be necessary from time to time.

[0026] The mat retainer comprised of the axle 142 and/or the fillerpieces 112 are used to allow indexing of the golfing mat into a positionto locate any selected one of the spaced apart golf ball hitting areas134 and the associated golf tee-mounting aperture 140 thereof at apredetermined golf ball hitting location about the platform. In the samemanner as shown in FIG. 3, the conventional form of a golf ballsupporting tee 52 extends upwardly from the disc shaped base section 56.The base section 56 is secured by a layer of adhesive in a recess 58formed in the load bearing surface of the rubber sponge matt layer 26.The recess 50 is aligned with an aperture 40 to allow the tee shank 54to extend above the playing field for positioning a golf ball at adesired elevation for contact with a golf club head.

[0027] While the present invention has been described in connection withthe preferred embodiments of the various figures, it is to be understoodthat other similar embodiments may be used or modifications andadditions may be made to the described embodiment for performing thesame function of the present invention without deviating there from.Therefore, the present invention should not be limited to any singleembodiment, but rather construed in breadth and scope in accordance withthe recitation of the appended claims.

1. A golf practice mat including the combination of: a platform; a matincluding a playing surface on a resilient carrier pad having a loadbearing face surface for support by said platform, said mat having anouter peripheral margin containing spaced apart areas of said playingsurface each containing a golf tee mounting aperture; a mat retainercarried by said platform to index said mat into a position to locateeach selected one of the spaced apart areas of said playing surface andthe associated golf tee mounting aperture thereof at a predeterminedgolf ball hitting location above said platform; and a golf ball teeincluding a flexible golf tee shank permeating said associated selectedgolf tee mounting aperture for retention by said mat to support a golfball atop said golf ball tee within said selected one of the spacedapart areas of said playing surface at the predetermined golf ballhitting location for impact with a golf club.
 2. The golf practice mataccording to claim 1 further including a releasable anchor secured tothe platform for anchoring said mat after indexing on said platform. 3.The golf practice mat according to claim 1 wherein said mat retainerincludes an axle having a central longitudinal axis supported by saidplatform to extend vertically through a central aperture in said playingsurface for rotary indexing of mat on said platform.
 4. The golfpractice mat according to claim 3 wherein said outer peripheral marginof said mat further includes a circular boundary edge centered forrotation about a central vertical axis coextensive with said centrallongitudinal axis of said axle.
 5. The golf practice mat according toclaim 3 wherein said mat is bounded by an annular outer peripheral edgeand said mat retainer includes spandrels with arcuate edge segmentsconforming to and disbursed about the annular outer peripheral edge ofsaid mat for forming a stationary extensions to said playing surface. 6.The golf practice mat according to claim 3 wherein said mat retainerincludes a disc supported in a recessed annular cavity in said loadbearing face surface, said disc having an annular central bearingsurface for forming an annular rotary bearing guide to support said matfor rotation about a vertical central axis co-extensive with the centrallongitudinal axis of said axle.
 7. The golf practice mat according toclaim 3 wherein said outer peripheral margin of said mat furtherincludes a rectangularly shaped boundary edge centered for rotationabout a central vertical axis coextensive with said central longitudinalaxis of said axle.
 8. The golf practice mat according to claim 1 whereinsaid golf tee further includes a base plate secured to an end of saidflexible golf tee for support within a recess formed in said loadbearing face surface of said mat.
 9. The golf practice mat according toclaim 8 wherein said golf tee further includes a threaded nut membersupported by said base plate and a threaded shaft protruding from saidflexible golf tee shank for releasably joining said golf tee shank tosaid base plate.
 10. The golf practice mat according to claim 1 whereinsaid golf ball tee comprises: an adjustable tee extendable through saidgolf tee mounting aperture in said mat to present a golf ball supportsurface on said flexible golf tee shank at a distance sufficient toextend beyond said mat to support a golf ball within a selectable rangeof elevations above the playing surface of said mat; a collar supportedby said golf mat; and threaded fasteners for releasably interconnectingsaid collar and said tee.
 11. The golf practice mat according to claim 1wherein said mat retainer includes pins interconnecting said playingfield and said platform for anchoring said playing field to locate theselected one of said spaced apart areas of the playing surface at saidpredetermined golf ball hitting location.
 12. The golf practice mataccording to claim 1 wherein said mat retainer includes at least onelocking pin received in one of said golf tee mounting aperture discretefrom the selected golf tee mounting aperture, said at least one lockingpin being aligned with a pin socket in said platform for securing saidplaying field at said predetermined golf ball hitting location.
 13. Thegolf practice mat according to claim 1 wherein said playing surfaceincludes a stratum of artificial turf.
 14. A driving range mat apparatusincluding: a platform; a golf mat having a playing surface to support agolfer for address of a golf ball at a contiguous outer peripheralmargin of said playing surface, said golf mat having a resilient carrierpad adhered to said playing surface for support by said platform, saidcontiguous outer peripheral margin of said playing surface having spacedapart golf ball hitting areas each including a golf club approach pathand a golf club follow through path intercepted by a golf tee mountingaperture; a mat retainer carried by said platform to index said mat intoa position to locate any selected one of the spaced apart golf ballhitting areas and the associated golf tee mounting aperture thereof at apredetermined golf ball hitting location above said platform; and a golfball tee including a flexible golf tee shank permeating said associatedselected golf tee mounting aperture for retention by said mat to supporta golf ball atop said golf ball tee within said selected one of thespaced apart golf ball hitting areas at said predetermined golf ballhitting location for impact with a golf club.
 15. The golf practice mataccording to claim 14 further including a releasable anchor secured tothe platform for anchoring said mat after indexing on said platform. 16.The golf practice mat according to claim 14 wherein said mat retainerincludes an axle having a central longitudinal axis supported by saidplatform to extend vertically through a central aperture in said playingsurface for rotary indexing of mat on said platform, said outerperipheral margin of said golf mat further includes a circular boundaryedge centered for rotation about a central vertical axis coextensivewith said central longitudinal axis of said axle.
 17. The golf practicemat according to claim 14 wherein said golf mat is bounded by an annularouter peripheral edge and said mat retainer includes spandrels witharcuate edge segments conforming to and disbursed about the annularouter peripheral edge of said golf mat for forming stationary extensionsto said playing surface.
 18. The golf practice mat according to claim 14wherein said golf ball tee further includes: a base plate secured to anend of said flexible golf tee supported within a recess formed in saidload bearing face surface of said mat; and a threaded nut membersupported by said base plate and a threaded shaft protruding from saidflexible golf tee shank for releasably joining said golf tee shank tosaid base plate.
 19. The golf practice mat according to claim 14 whereinsaid mat retaining includes pins interconnecting said playing field andsaid platform for anchoring said playing field to locate the selectedone of said spaced apart areas of the playing surface at saidpredetermined golf ball hitting location.